Reflector attaching structure for lamps



y 1933- L. E. HENDEE REFLECTOR ATTACHING STRUCTURE FOR LAMPS Filed Oct.16, 1929 Ziwwmtoz %m $77 aaa Patented May 23, 193?;

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE LEM E. HENDEE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGN'OR TO LINE IVIA'll-liRIAIL. COM-*- IE'ANY, OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAVIARE- REFLECTOR ATTACHING swans-roanron LAMPS This invention relates to reflector attaching structures forlamps.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of reflectorattaching structure for lamps which is so constructed that the reflectormay be very readily attached or detached from the body portion, which isprovided with means for preventing inadvertent detachment of thereflector, and to which requires no tools whatsoever for eitherattaching or detaching the reflector.

Further objects are to provide a reflector attaching structure which isequipped with means for preventing rattling of the reflector even whenthe device is subjected to severe jars, which yielding holds the reflector in its correct position centrally of the body portion to whichthe reflector is attached, and which positively locks the re- 2o flectorto the body portion so that it cannot be detached without firstwithdrawing a latching member.

Further objects are to provide a lamp receiving structure in which wirereceiving members or terminals are carried by an insulating bodyportion, in which the reflector is provided with cut-outs to adequatelyclear the terminals and in which means are provided for preventing theinsertion of the reflector in any but one predetermined manner so as tosecure proper alignment of the cut-out portions with the terminalmembers. In greater detail, objects of this invention are to provide astructure in which bayonet v slots interlock with projecting pins and inwhich additional means are provided which prevent relative rotation ofthe reflector with reference to the body portion, so that the bayonetslot and pin engagement cannot be disturbed without first adjusting thelooking means in a predetermined position.

Further objects are to provide a construe tion which is so made that anunskilled laborer may easily attach or remove the re fiector, in whichadequate protection is afforded all live parts of the lamp receivingbody portion and in which, although a metal reflector may be used,nevertheless there is no possible chance of short-circuiting orgrounding the terminal members or causing the drawing, four are used.

contact between the metal reflector and the terminal members.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of the structure, with the majorportion thereof in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, with partsbroken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that a body portion 1 ofporcelain is provided for carrying the reflector 2. This porcelain bodyportion is carried in any suitwith yielding contact strips or fingers 6between which the prongs of the lamp may be inserted. The contact strips6 are connected to wire receiving members or terminals 7 as shown inFigures 1 and 2.

The lower cylindrical portion 4.- of the body portion is provided withspaced cut-outs or recesses 8 which receive the outer arms 9 of U-shapedspring clips or spring members. These spring clips or members areprovided with inner arms 10, which are preferably slightly curved, asshown in Figures 2 and 3. The inner arms 10 bear directly against thecylindrical or shank portion 5 of the reflector when the reflector isforced upwardly into position.

Any number of U-shaped spring members may be employed. In the form shownin I I Three of these U-shaped members or spring clips are held in placeby means of bolts or screws 11 provided with clamping nuts 12. Theremaining spring clip is held in place by means of a nut 13 screwed uponthe threaded reduced tubular shank of a fitting 14, as shown in Figure8. It is to be noted that each of the arms 9 and 10 of the U-shapedspring members are apertured so that the bolts 11 pass beyond theinnermost arm 10. In addition to this a plunger 15 is provided in conjunction with the tubular fitting 14, and this plunger, under normalconditions, projects through the aperture in the arm 10 of thecorresponding U-shaped spring member.

The tubular fitting 14 is provided with a recessed portion whichreceives the compression spring 16. One end of this spring bears againstthe plunger head 15 and the other end bears against an outer shoulder atthe end of the recess. The plunger 15 has a reduced shank which isthreaded into or otherwise attached to a manipulating thumb piece 17.This thumb piece is provided with a rectangular portion 18 which fitswithin a correspondingly notched portion of the fitting 14, as shown inFigures 1 and 2. When it is desired to retract the plunger, the thumbpiece 17 is pulled outwardly and thereafter rotated a quarter of a turn,so that the rectangular portion 18 thereof bears against the outer faceof the fitting 14 and holds the plunger 15 in its retracted position.

The shank 5 of the reflector is provided with a hole 19 into which theplunger is adapted to pass when the plunger is released and allowed tomove inwardly under the influence of the spring 16. This reflector shankis also provided with a plurality of bayonet slots 20 which interlockwith the inwardly projecting ends of the bolts or pins 11, If desired,the inner end of the shank 5 of the reflector may be provided with asmall inturned flange to give additional rigidity to the structure.

In positioning the reflector within the body portion, the followingsteps are followed: The plunger 15 is locked in its retracted positionand the reflector is pushed upwardly until the inner ends of the boltsor pins 11 pass into the vertical portion of the bayonet slots 20.Thereafter the reflector is given a slight rotary motion with respect tothe body portion, thus causing the pins or bolts 1.1 to interlock withthe reflector by passing into the horizontal or lateral portion of thebayonet slots. When the reflector is in this position, the hole 19aligns with the plunger 15 and the thumb piece may be turned so that itsrectangular portion 18 slips into the corresponding cut-out in thefitting 14 and assumes the position shown in Figure 3, therebypermitting the plunger 15 to enter the hole 19. The plunger 15 thereforelocks the reflector against rotary motion with respect to the bodyportion 1 and therefore holds all of the pins 11 in their interlockingposition in the bayonet slots 20.

It is to be noted that the inner arms 10 of the U-shaped spring membersare relatively stiff due to their curved shape, but

nevertheless they will yield sufliciently to permit the insertion of theshank 5 of the reflector. They exert, however, considerable pressureagainst the outer side of the shank 5 of the reflector and thus hold thereflector by providing cut-outs or recesses 21 in the shank 5 of thereflector. These recesses register with the terminal members when thereflector is positioned and locked in place. The reflector cannot comein contact with the terminal members, for if it is attempted to insertthe reflector in a position so that the cut-outs 21 therein will notregister with the terminal member 7, the upper edge of the shank 5 willengage the pins or bolts 11 and prevent insertion of the re flector. Thereflector can go into place only in one position, as previouslydescribed, due to the fact that the opening 19, see Figure 3, has noslot connecting it with the upper edge of the shank 5 of the reflector.

It is therefore clear that the reflector can be inserted in only apredetermined position. It is to be noted also that the construction isextremely simple and does not require any disfiguring external means forthe attachment of the reflector to the body portion.

It is to be noted also that no tools are required in attaching ordetaching the reflector.

It is to be distinctly understood that other locking means than thespring pressed plunger 15 may be employed. Obviously this plunger can beany other type of spring pressed member, or may, in fact, be of thescrew type, provided only that means are provided for projecting theplunger inwardly and withdrawing the plunger outwardly.

It is also obvious that other changes may be made in the preciseembodiment shown in the drawing and described in detail withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

Therefore, although this invention has been described in considerabledetail, it is to be understood that such description is intended asillustrative rather than limiting,

as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted asclaimed.

T'claim:

1 1. A lamp receivlng structure comprising a body portion adapted toreceive a lamp and having electrical terminal members, said body portionhaving a downwardly projecting flange, a reflector adapted-toapproximately fit said flange, said reflector and said flange havinginterengaging portions, said reflector having notches formed there inadapted to approximately register with said electrical terminal members,said reflector having an opening independent of said interengagingportions of said flange and reflector, and means carried by said bodyportion and adapted to enter said opening to prevent inadvertentpositioning of said reflector in any position otherthan that producingapproximate registration of the said notches with the said electricalterminal members.

2. A lamp receiving structure comprising a body portion provided with adownwardly projecting flange, inwardly projecting pins carried by saidflange, a plurality of antirattle spring members carried by said flangeand tending to move inwardly, and a reflector provided with bayonetslots adapted to interlock with said pins, said reflector having aportion for engaging said spring members.

3. A lamp receiving structure comprising a body portion provided with adownwardly projecting flange, inwardly projecting pins carried by saidflange, a plurality of spring members carried by said flange and tendingto move inwardly, a reflector provided with bayonet slots adapted tointerlock with said pins, said reflector having a portion for en gagingsaid spring members, and a movable plunger carried by said body portion,said reflector having a hole, independent of said slots, adapted toreceive said plunger, whereby said reflector is locked in position anddetachment of the pins from the bayonet slots is prevented.

4. A lamp receiving structure comprising a body portion having adownwardly projecting flange, a plurality of U-shaped spring memberscarried by said flange and having arms located inwardly of said flangeand tending to move towards the center of said flange, a plurality ofinwardly projecting pins carried by said flange, a reflector havingbayonet slots adapted to interlock with said pins and having a hole, anda movable plunger carried by said flange and adapted to enter said holeto lock said reflector against rotary motion with respect to saidflange, said reflector engaging the arms of said U-shaped spring memberswhen said reflector is in position with respect to said body portion.

5. A lamp receiving structure comprising a body portion provided with adownwardly projecting flange, a plurality of U-shaped spring membershaving arms positioned inwardly of said flange, a plurality of bolts forlocking said spring members to said flange, said bolts having inner endsprojecting inwardly of said flange, a reflector having a shank adaptedto enter said flange and engage said spring members, said shank havingbayonet slots for the reception of the LEM E. HENDEE.

